Moderator

Good afternoon. This is Shawn Linenberger, news editor at The Mirror newspaper of Tonganoxie. I'll be your moderator for this online chat. Today we are joined by Todd Thompson, a Republican who is running for Leavenworth County attorney. We have some good questions for today's chat, but we're still taking more.

July 17, 2008at 1:01 p.m.

Todd Thompson

Shawn I like to thank you and everyone else for allowing me the opportunity to answer questions today.

Todd Thompson

Yes I do. My top priorities are to improve the communication with the community and law enforcement officers. I also have a plan to supervise over plea agreements and the charging of cases. These are all the priorities of the office that need to be stepped up to make Leavenworth County safer.

July 17, 2008at 1:10 p.m.

Moderator

Thank you, Todd, for answering our first question. This chat also can be found on the Journal-World Web site, www.ljworld.com.

July 17, 2008at 1:11 p.m.

Moderator

Todd Thompson

I have had 5 complete jury trials. I have been the head of the juvenile division in Leavenworth County. While I was there I also did several adult cases, but juvenile cases are bench trials, or trials before a judge. I have had over 200 of those cases of all type. Some of the cases I had primary responsibilities were the child sex abuses cases where I had to have children the age of 3 to 5 discussing on the stand what happened. That takes a lot of time and preparation.

Moderator

Todd,What is your position on local prosecution of illegal immigration?

A concern of voters in southern leavenworth county is that you're focused only on Leavenworth and Lansing?

July 17, 2008at 1 p.m.

Todd Thompson

Thanks for the information, but my tendencies of focusing only on Leavenworth and Lansing couldn't be further from the truth. Leavenworth County is my home and you can ask the law enforcement in your community, I have never given my priority to anyone in particular, but to everyone impartially. I think the biggest grievance I have heard from Law Enforcement that I have worked with is that sometimes they feel like they don't get treated as fairly. Sad fact is that the law enforcement in Leavenworth and Lansing have the same complaints. I have made regular visits in the last five years in the County Attorney's office to Tonganoxie and Basehor. I would meet with all the school officials and provided trainings for the law enforcement. As for the police reports that come in, there is no priority there, I take them as they come in. I return all the calls or visits to any of the officers. That answer did focus primarily on officers, but that is how I get my information on who to prosecute and how to protect everyone in the community. I have talked to citizens in the community and what also needs to happen is better communication back and forth so those in the South know what is transpiring with their case so they are being taken care of.

July 17, 2008at 1:25 p.m.

Moderator

Today's chat may be viewed at The Mirror Web site, as well as The Basehor Sentinel, The Lansing Current and Bonner Springs Chieftain Web sites. As was mentioned previously, the chat also is being posted at the Lawrence Journal-World's site.We have some questions from people posting at the Journal-World's site. I will be posting them as well.

July 17, 2008at 1:27 p.m.

Todd Thompson

As for the illegal immigration, this is a Federal issue that the County Attorney's office does not have much control over. Trust me I know. I have had several cases where I have contacted I.C.E. when I found out we had illegal immigrants. I.C.E. told me on several occasions that their only way they would look at deporting an illegal immigrant is if they caused a felony or in a home with 20 people. The only thing as County Attorney I would do is make sure I can charge them with the strongest offense I could. I, of course, would constantly inform I.C.E. of any illegal immigrants we see come through the County Attorney's office.

July 17, 2008at 1:28 p.m.

Moderator

Here is the first post from the Journal-World site. It is a two-part question.12 July 2008 at 2:49 a.m.JeremyWestenn (Anonymous) asks:

Todd,why are you more qualified over your opponent? Why will you do the job better then Deb Snider?

July 17, 2008at 1:29 p.m.

Todd Thompson

I know Leavenworth County. I have worked with all the law enforcement offices, probation offices and County offices, other attorney's and judges for the last 5 years and an attorney in the community for 8 years. I know the people in the County Attorney's office and I know where the strengths and weaknesses are already and come in there and make the changes immediately. Further, I am a prosecutor and have been a prosecutor. I know the people of the community. I have the managerial experience from helping with my parents business to helping in the County Attorney's office. I have already been endorsed by the Former Chief of Police of Leavenworth, Lee Doehring as well as the Leavenworth City Fraternal Order of Police Troop 19.

July 17, 2008at 1:36 p.m.

Moderator

Our next question comes from a post on the Journal-World site:

17 July 2008 at 10:21 a.m.sinedie (Anonymous) asks:

Mr. Thompson: Would you please describe how you would do the job better than the current CA, and other reasons for running? Thank you very much.

July 17, 2008at 1:40 p.m.

Todd Thompson

I thank you for the question as well as everyone else that has asked questions

July 17, 2008at 1:41 p.m.

Todd Thompson

The office can be run a lot more effectively and efficiently. There are several areas in the office the County Attorney's office that need improvement or changes. One thing as I have been going to meetings, door-to-door and meeting with law enforcement is the lack of communication they say they have had with the office and themselves. As I said before, that is something that needs to be changed. The law enforcement needs to know that they will be able to get to the attorneys and discuss their cases, get prepared and told what is going on, same with the witnesses and victims. A liaison that reaches out and is specifically there to communicate to people and law enforcement is imperative. Further, there are areas in the office that are not necessary and areas that are and that needs to be managed better and I know where those are from being there.

July 17, 2008at 1:46 p.m.

Moderator

And that is the final question for today's chat.Todd, thank you for joining us today.

Look for additional chats online. Our next chat will be 11 a.m. July 23 when we welcome Republican Deb Snider, who also is running for Leavenworth County attorney.

July 17, 2008at 1:51 p.m.

Todd Thompson

The reason why I made the decision to run was not an easy one. I have had people reaching out to me for the last 3 years asking would I run. I spent my time in the office making as many improvements as I could for the juveniles, seeing I was the head of the juvenile division. I implemented a county wide truancy program, developed a policy for truancy, and a pamphlet to help inform the youth and their parents of the laws, particularly the sex crimes in hope to decrease crime. All these programs were to help make improvements and prevent crime. I then started the internship program for the Leavenworth County Attorney's office, which was free legal help from area law schools. The thing I found was that there was more improvement that needed to be done and I was limited in what I could. I asked for changes and new directions in effecting the office, but didn't get allowed to do it. I found that things could be done a lot better and I knew I could do it. After a lot of discussion with my family and my friends I found it more important for my community for me to run than just be comfortable and safe in the office. Leavenworth County is my home, my family and friend's home and I want it safer and better for everyone.

July 17, 2008at 1:51 p.m.

Todd Thompson

Thank you Shawn and everyone again for the questions. If there are any more questions please email me at www.toddthompson.org. I appreciate it and all the time people took writing and reading.